Patent GB-377854-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in filler-feeding mechanism for cigar-making machines
IPC: A24C1/02
Filed: 1931-10-31
Abstract: 377,854. Cigar-making machines. TRIGGS, W. W., 57, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London.-(International Cigar Machinery Co. ; 5520, 2nd Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.) Oct. 31, 1931, No. 30241. [Class 130.] In filler-feeding mechanism comprising an intermittently-moving cross-feed belt from which a charge of tobacco is cut and delivered by a pusher member on to a longitudinal main feed belt, and in which, if the tobacco accumulates too rapidly on the main feed belt, the pusher member yields before completing its stroke and thereby prevents the ratchet driving mechanism of the cross-feed belt from. coming into operation, means are provided whereby the ratchet pawl is locked in its disengaged position during the return stroke, and is released therefrom for the operating stroke, only if the pusher member completes its feeding movement. Tobacco, placed in a trough constituted by a horizontal cross-feed belt 45, Figs. 4 and 6, arranged between vertical belts 43, 44, is fed under a compressing roller 189 and presser plate 194 on to a plate 201a, on which a charge is cut off by a vertically-moving knife 195 and transferred by a pusher 225, Fig. 13, on to the longitudinal feed belt 150. The shaft of the belt 45 is connected by bevel gearing to the shafts of the belts 43, 44, and is also geared to a shaft 24, Figs. 4 and 9, which is intermittently rotated by a ratchet wheel 25 and pawls 75, 75a carried by a lever 23 connected by a link 22 to a crank 21 rotated by a sprocket 18. The pawls carry a pin 74 which, on the return stroke of the lever 23, engages a groove 73 in a locking-lever 69, which thereby holds the pawls out of engagement with the ratchet wheel. When the tobacco is being fed correctly, the lever 69 is disengaged from the pawls at the end of the return stroke by engagement of a pin 125 on the lever 69 with an abutment lever 123 ; but when too much tobacco accumulates on the longitudinal belt 150, the abutment 123 is not moved into the path of the pin 125, and the following stroke of the pawls is ineffective. For this purpose, the pusher 225, Fig. 13, is connected to an arm 227, which is loose on the shaft 24, but is connected by a spring 237 to a lever 229 actuated by a cam 235 and lever 231. The arm 227 also has a pin- and-slot connection to a link 240 connected by an arm 241 to the pivot 112 of a lever 113, 114, Fig. 9, which actuates the abutment 123 through a link 119. When the tobacco on the belt 150 becomes jammed, the pusher 225 is unable to make its stroke to the left, Fig. 13, and consequently the shaft 112 and abutment 123 are not rocked for unlocking the pawls. The effective stroke of the pawls is varied by angular adjustment of a shield 95, which determines the point at which the pawls engage the ratchet wheel. For this purpose, the shield 95 is connected to an index plate 84, Fig. 12, the angular position of which is fixed by pins engaging one or other of two rows of holes 91, 92 in the plate. The two rows of holes are staggered with relation to each other to give a finer adjustment. The belt 150 is driven intermittently by ratchet mechanism on a shaft 155a, Fig. 4, geared to a sprocket drive 14. At the end of the belt 150, the tobacco passes under a series of stationary fingers and a toothed feeding-wheel arranged above the belt. A reciprocating rake then pushes the tobacco into a sizing-box, at the rear end of which the tobacco is sheared off by a descending knife, another rake then pushing the charge into a transfer box by which it is conveyed to the rolling-apron. The knife 195 is actuated by a lever 206, Fig. 6, and cam-actuated rod 210, the presser plate 194 being simultaneously moved downwards by an arm 201 acting through a spring 205. Two cross-feed mechanisms may be used for blended cigars. Specification 282,451, [Class 130, Tobacco], is referred to.